Mat 5:39-48, 7:1-27, 10:24, 12:35, 15:14 | Family | STEP | Resist not evil ; by rendering like for like. It is the spirit of kindness and forgiveness towards those who injure us which our Lord here inculcates. The forgiveness of injuries, and not the avenging of them, is an exhibition of true greatness and goodness.

Matthew 5:39-48

Resist not evil; by rendering like for like. It is the spirit of kindness and forgiveness towards those who injure us which our Lord here inculcates. The forgiveness of injuries, and not the avenging of them, is an exhibition of true greatness and goodness. Coat--cloak; the coat among the Jews was an inner garment, called a tunic, extending from the neck to the knee. Over this was a cloak or mantle, which was a large, loose garment, and when they travelled was girt tight round the body with a girdle Hence, "to gird up one's loins" implied readiness for labor or a journey. The girdle or sash answered also the purpose of purse for money.

Let him have thy cloak; suffer losses, so far as duty will permit, rather than contend about them. Compel thee to go a mile; the original word here rendered compel, denotes a compulsion by the public authorities and for public service. When thus called upon by rightful authority to travel or do public service, be ready to go farther or do even more than is required, rather than resist the government. Give--turn not thou away; when the person who asks or would borrow is needy accommodate him, if consistently with duty you can do it. Love your enemies; not their character or their conduct, but their souls. Pray for them and seek their good. Love to enemies, and a disposition to do them the greatest good which duty will permit, likens men to God. If ye love them; them only.

Publicans; tax-gatherers, who were considered as very wicked, and were often cruel and oppressive. As your Father; imitate him in all his imitable perfections.

Matthew 7:1-27

Judge not; rashly, censoriously, or unjustly, the character or conduct of others. Harsh judgments will provoke retaliation. Be judged--measured; you may expect to be treated as you treat others. Lu 6:37. Men who are exceedingly blind to their own faults, are often exceedingly quicksighted to the faults of others. Those who labor most successfully in advancing their own spiritual welfare, are the best fitted to be useful to others. That which is holy; the holy flesh of the sacrifices.

Trample them; as things to them valueless.

Turn--and rend you; turn from the pearls in rage to attack the given, because he has offered them what they cannot eat. Dogs and swine represent selfish, quarrelsome, rapacious, and sensual men, whom it is often best to leave to themselves, lest our indiscreet labors be not only thrown away as regards them, but turn to our own injury. Scorners and scoffers should sometimes be let alone, lest, on being reproved, they become more injurious than they otherwise would be, to themselves and to others. Pr 9:7,8. Ask; in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

Seek; continue to ask of God the blessings which you need.

Knock; at the door of his mercy and grace, with sincerity and earnestness, in the way of his appointment, and you shall be admitted to communion with him: in his light you will see light, and of his fulness receive according to all your wants. Men, in order to judge and act rightly with regard to their duty to themselves and their fellow-men, need wisdom and strength from above: they should therefore habitually ask them of God; and those who do this in dependence on Jesus Christ, may expect, for his sake, to receive them. Every one; all who rightly ask, receive either what they ask or something better in its place. Good gifts; things which are needed and truly beneficial. The readiness of a kind, affectionate parent to give necessary food to a famishing child, is but a faint emblem of the readiness of God to give all needed good to those who rightly ask him. So; do to others as, under like circumstances, you ought to wish others to do to you.

This is the law and the prophets; what is required in the Old Testament. Strait gate; strait here means narrow and difficult, and represents the difficulty of entering on a religious life, or beginning heartily to obey God.

Wide; easy to enter, requiring one only to follow his own depraved inclinations. The difficulties which stand in the way of beginning from the heart to obey God, need not and ought not to hinder any from doing it. Few; that find or go in the way of life. This truth is contrary to what many teach. Therefore, Beware; avoid false teachers.

Sheep's clothing; appearing in the character of true teachers.

Wolves; selfish, greedy of gain, and disposed to plunder. False teachers may, at first, appear very interesting; but they should be judged of, not by their appearance merely, but by the character and effects of their principles and conduct. Fruits; the nature and effects of their doctrines and conduct. Not every one; men are to be judged of, not by their words only, but by their principles and conduct. They must obey the revealed will of God, and to be accepted of him, must do it with the heart. The only sure test of true religion, is the doing of the known will of God. Never knew you; as my disciples. A wise man; one who selects good ends, and uses the right means to attain them. The hopes of those who believe in Christ as the Lord their righteousness, and do his will, can never be disappointed. Those hopes which are not founded on Jesus Christ, but upon human merit, or on the mercy of God without faith in Christ and obedience to him, will perish at the giving up of the ghost. Pr 11:7.

Matthew 10:24

Above his master; you must not expect that they will treat you better than they treat me.

Matthew 12:35

Matthew 15:14

Let them alone; regard not what they say, and have nothing to do with them.